But instead of letting his loss get in the way, Riley’s learned to work with what he has. Now six years old, Riley plays tee ball in his hometown. Riley’s dad found videos of a one-armed Japanese baseball player, and Riley watched them to learn a new technique for his favorite sport.

Riley’s mother said to KHOU that his determination to overcome the obstacles in his life have served as an inspiration to his peers and his parents. “Our son has lost so much, but I feel like he sacrificed to show the world, to show me that it’s not about the diamonds or the purse you have,” Riley’s mother said. “It’s amazing, it’s inspiring and I would definitely classify it as a miracle."